THE GLENCOE LITERATURE LIBRARY

Study Guide

for

The Pigman
by Paul Zindel

 Meet Paul Zindel
Eight hundred and fifty-three horrifying things
had happened to me by the time I was a
teenager. . . . If you haven’t croaked before
finishing [The Pigman], then you’d
understand how I survived being a teenager.

Zindel Becomes a Writer After Zindel was grad-

uated from Wagner College, Staten Island, he
taught high school chemistry for ten years. He
quit his job as a teacher to begin writing. His first
play, The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-
Moon Marigolds, is about a student from a troubled
home who prepares an experiment about
marigolds for her school’s science fair. The play
won a Pulitzer Prize as well as the New York
. . . The Pigman probably is successful now Drama Desk Critic’s Circle Award. Encouraged by
because it triggers discussions with kids about an editor who had seen the play, Zindel wrote the
problems that are very important to them. I novel The Pigman, a book that became a favorite
think that’s just the way that books work and of generations of teenaged readers and their
what’s behind all authors writing books, whether teachers.
they know it or not.
Zindel Breaks New Ground Most reviewers of
—Paul Zindel, A Message from the Author young adult literature credit The Pigman, along
with several other novels published during the
1960s, with establishing a new category of litera-

P aul Zindel, the author of The Pigman, had a

difficult childhood. He grew up without his
father, he had a stormy relationship with his
ture, the young adult (YA) novel. Since the novel
was first published, in 1968, Zindel has written
twelve other young adult books, as well as plays, a
children’s book, a series of books for middle
Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

mother, and he had very little self-esteem.

Zindel was born in 1936 on Staten Island, school readers, and screenplays.
New York. He was raised by his mother after Zindel’s ability to write about adolescents with
his father abandoned the family when Zindel honesty and humor has won him a wide audience
was only two years old. In search of work, his and made him one of today’s most well-known and
mother moved the family fifteen times during respected writers of books for young people. New
his childhood and adolescence. For this reason, York Newsday recently wrote that Zindel is “the
he didn’t form many close relationships with rare specimen of a grown-up who seems to have
other children. Instead, he withdrew inward, total recall of that emotional roller coaster ride.”
observing the world around him from a Zindel is married and has two children. He
distance. “All of my novels begin with real, says that he likes storytelling. “We all have an
specific moments from my own life,” he says. active thing that we do that gives us self-esteem,
In fact, everywhere in his work, readers can that makes us proud,” he says. “It is necessary.
find reflections of Zindel’s childhood and I have to write stories because that’s the way
adolescence. In his autobiography, The Pigman the wiring went in.” Today, Zindel lives in
and Me, Zindel writes: Manhattan, where he continues to write.

The Pigman Study Guide 13

 Introducing the Novel
“This is a shocker of a book, written in a Lorraine has few friends, loves to read about psy-
contemporary idiom. It is a haunting story. The chology, and wants to be a writer. The lives of
book is startling and truthful and vivid.” these two characters change dramatically when a
—Young Readers’ Review middle-aged widower, Angelo (“The Pigman”)
Pignati reaches out to them and becomes their
friend. The lessons that they learn through their
A MODERN CLASSIC
experiences with Mr. Pignati change the way they
In 1968, the year that The Pigman was published, see themselves and the world around them.
few novels addressed the pressures that teenagers
face in the language that teenagers themselves THE TIME AND PLACE
use. The Pigman does just that. A major reason for The story takes place in Staten Island, New York,
the book’s success is that it reveals teenagers’ in the late 1960s. During this period, public
thoughts, feelings, and longings accurately and protests against racial discrimination and the war
honestly. The novel opened the door for other in Vietnam helped create a climate of rebellious-
realistic fiction for young adults. Although The ness against authority. Some teenagers openly
Pigman is more than thirty years old, it continues rebelled by engaging in bad habits such as smok-
to speak to the needs and interest of teenagers. ing, drinking alcoholic beverages, and using pro-
The main characters in The Pigman are high fanity. Teenagers held marches and sit-ins against
school sophomores John Conlan and Lorraine the draft, demanded that their schools give them
Jensen. John wants to be accepted as the individ- a voice in what they studied, and struggled to
ual he is and has dreams of becoming an actor. gain greater political power.

Did You Know?

Staten Island, the setting of The Pigman, is the these boroughs make up a city of over 7 mil-
smallest of five boroughs that make up New lion people.
York City, the largest city in the United States. When most Americans speak of New York

Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

A borough is a political division unique to New City, they generally mean Manhattan, the home
York City. The other four boroughs, in order of of Wall Street, the nation’s financial capital,
size from largest to smallest, are Brooklyn and Broadway, the nation’s chief theater dis-
(which until the 1890s was a separate city), trict. Staten Island residents are able to reach
Queens, Manhattan, and the Bronx. In total, Manhattan by ferry.

14 The Pigman Study Guide

 NEW YORK CITY’S FIVE BOROUGHS

N
BRONX
W E
S

N
TA
LO

AT
NG
NH
MA

JERSEY
CITY QUEENS

I S L A ND
EY
JERS

K
YOR
NEW
NEW

BROOKLYN

STATEN ISLAND

AT L A N T I C O C E A N
Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

CRITIC’S CORNER
“[John and Lorraine’s] ‘epic’ makes a very funny book on one level because
Mr. Zindel catches the bright, hyperbolic sheen of teen-age language
accurately and with humor.”
—John Weston, New York Times

“[The Pigman] is a somber and chastening story that gets better and better as
it goes on.”
—David Rees, The Marble in the Water

“Few books that have been written for young people are as . . . truthful
about the human condition.”
—Diane Farrell, Horn Book Magazine

The Pigman Study Guide 15

 Before You Read
The Pigman Chapters 1–5
FOCUS ACTIVITY
Who is your best friend? Why is this person’s friendship important to you?
Journal
In your journal, describe your friend and explain why you value his or her friendship.
Setting a Purpose
Read to find out how and why two teenagers become best friends.

BACKGROUND
Did You Know?
Some novels begin with a prologue, or short introduction. The Pigman, for example, begins with a pro-
logue titled “The Oath.” The purpose of a prologue is to give background information about the story that
follows. As you read “The Oath,” notice that it tells you what kind of story The Pigman will be and when,
where, and how it will be told.
Who Is Talking?
The Pigman has two first-person narrators, John and Lorraine. They are the main characters in the novel
as well as the “voices” that tell the story. John and Lorraine take turns explaining what happened, so that
readers see events from John’s point of view in one chapter and Lorraine’s point of view in the next. Pay
special attention to the comments that John and Lorraine make about each other. Like real-life best
friends, they often have insights into each other’s personality.

VOCABULARY PREVIEW
avocation [av ə kā shən] n. hobby (p. 1)
compassion [kəm pashən] n. sympathy for other people; pity (p. 5)

Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

distort [di sto
 rt] v. to twist the truth; to give a false impression (p. 5)
mortified [mo  rti f¯d] adj. extremely embarrassed or ashamed (p. 7)
patron [pātrən] n. person who provides financial support to artists or writers (p. 16)
philanthropy [fi lanthrə pē] n. act of charity intended to help a person or a group of people (p. 12)
prevarications [pri vari kā shənz] n. lies (p. 14)
subliminally [sub limə nəl lē] adj. unconsciously (p. 4)
subsidize [subsi d¯z´] v. to provide financial aid (p. 16)

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 Name 㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭 Date 㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭 Class 㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭

Active Reading
The Pigman Chapters 1–5
Friends are usually alike in some ways and different in others. For example, friends may be the same age
and go to the same school, yet have very different opinions and personalities. So it is with John and
Lorraine. As you read the first five chapters of The Pigman, fill in the Venn diagram below with the ways
in which John and Lorraine are similar and different. Use the sample answers as models.

John Lorraine

Both John and

Lorraine
is good-looking is plain
go to
Franklin High
Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

The Pigman Study Guide 17

Name 㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭 Date 㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭 Class 㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭

Responding
The Pigman Chapters 1–5
Personal Response
What are your impressions of John? of Lorraine?

Analyzing Literature
Recall and Interpret
1. How does John feel about school? How did he act on his feelings when he was a fresh-
man? How does he act on them now? What does this change in his behavior tell you
about him?

2. What does Mrs. Jensen think of Lorraine? Does Lorraine share her opinion? Explain.

3. Describe the telephone prank that John and Lorraine play on Mr. Pignati. How does
John feel during the prank? How does Lorraine? What do their feelings suggest about
each of them?

Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

4. Why does Mr. Conlan install a lock on the family telephone? How does John respond?
What do their actions suggest about their relationship?

5. How does Mr. Pignati treat John and Lorraine during their first visit? Why does he treat
them this way?

18 The Pigman Study Guide

 Name 㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭 Date 㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭 Class 㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭

Responding
The Pigman Chapters 1–5
Analyzing Literature (continued)
Evaluate and Connect
6. Do you think that Mr. Pignati is a believable character? Why or why not?

7. How might John answer the Focus Activity question on page 16? How might Lorraine?
Are their ideas about friendship similar to yours? Why or why not?

Literature and Writing

Analyzing a Relationship
In a paragraph or two, analyze John’s relationship with his parents. What does Lorraine
think is the cause of the problems between them? Do you think Lorraine is right? What
other factors might be involved? What might the family do to get along better?
Extending Your Response
Literature Groups
In chapter 4, Lorraine says that Norton is a social outcast. With a group of classmates, dis-
cuss what she means. Together, decide which other characters in the novel might be called
outcasts and why. Share your group’s conclusions with other groups in your class.
Performing
Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

With a small group of classmates, choose a scene from The Pigman that could be performed
as a play. Appropriate scenes include John and Lorraine’s conversation on the bus, Lorraine’s
phone call to Mr. Pignati, and John and Lorraine’s first visit with Mr. Pignati. Discuss how
the characters should sound and act in the scene. Choose roles and rehearse the scene. Then
perform the scene for your class.

Save your work for your portfolio.

The Pigman Study Guide 19

 Before You Read
The Pigman Chapters 6–8
FOCUS ACTIVITY
How do you express your individuality? Do you wear unusual clothes? Style your hair a certain way? Listen
to certain kinds of music?
Quickwrite
Jot down a few of the ways that you express who you are.
Setting a Purpose
Read to find out how John and Lorraine express their individuality.

BACKGROUND
Did You Know?
In the mid-1960s, British rock musician John Lennon started a fad when he began wearing eyeglasses that
looked like those that Benjamin Franklin had worn. Soon, teenagers everywhere were sporting “Ben
Franklin glasses”—small, square eyeglasses with thin wire frames. Franklin not only wore glasses, he also
experimented with different types of lenses. Among his many inventions are bifocals —eyeglasses that
contain corrective lenses for both far-sightedness and near-sightedness.
Two Kinds of Conflict
Every story contains some kind of conflict, or struggle. Because novels are longer than short stories, they
often contain several conflicts. Conflicts can be external or internal. An external conflict is a struggle
between characters who have different needs, goals, or personalities. An internal conflict is a psychologi-
cal struggle arising from a personal problem or a difficult decision. As you read the next three chapters of
The Pigman, look for both kinds of conflicts.

VOCABULARY PREVIEW

Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

antagonistic [an ta´ə nis tik] adj. hostile; given to arguing or fighting (p. 29)
anxiety [an z¯ i tē ] n. fearful concern or nervousness (p. 29)
eerie [ēr ē ] adj. strange and frightening (p. 34)
ingrate [in rāt] n. ungrateful person (p. 37)
nocturnal [nok tu  r nal] adj. of the night; active at night (p. 30)
omens [ō mənz] n. clues as to what will happen in the future (p. 29)
ritual [rich oo¯¯¯ əl ] n. customary series of acts (p. 35)

20 The Pigman Study Guide

 Name 㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭 Date 㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭 Class 㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭

Active Reading
The Pigman Chapters 6–8
In chapters 6 and 8, Lorraine shares many details about her mother. As you read these chapters, take notes
about Mrs. Jensen in the blank circles on the character map below. Use the sample answers as models.

How She Treats Her

How She Looks Patients/Employees

has long brown hair steals from them

Mrs. Jensen
What She Thinks of Men How She Treats Lorraine
Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

The Pigman Study Guide 21

Name 㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭 Date 㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭 Class 㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭

Responding
The Pigman Chapters 6–8
Personal Response
How did you react to John’s news about Mrs. Pignati? Why?

Analyzing Literature
Recall and Interpret
1. Why does Lorraine dislike the Baron Park Zoo? In what ways is her life similar to that of
the zoo animals?

2. Briefly describe the three omens that Lorraine refers to in chapter 6. What do the omens
have in common?

3. What is so unusual about Mr. Pignati’s best friend? What does Mr. Pignati’s choice of
friend suggest about his life?

Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

4. What does Mr. Conlan want John to do for a living? How does John feel about the
career choice? Why?

5. What lie does Mr. Pignati tell about his wife? In your opinion, why does he lie? Support
your opinion with evidence from the novel.

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Responding
The Pigman Chapters 6–8
Analyzing Literature (continued)
6. How does Mr. Pignati react when the salesclerk thinks that Lorraine is his daughter?
What does the reaction tell you about Mr. Pignati’s feelings for Lorraine?

Evaluate and Connect

7. Book reviewers have praised the realism of the dialogues in The Pigman. Do you agree with
the reviewers? Do the dialogues, or conversations, seem real to you? Why or why not?

8. Review your response to the Focus Activity on page 20. What are the some of the ways
that John expresses his individuality? If John were a student today, what forms of self-
expression might he use?

Literature and Writing

Analyzing a Friendship
In a paragraph or two, analyze why John and Lorraine become friends with Mr. Pignati.
Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

What do you think Mr. Pignati adds to their lives?

Extending Your Response
Literature Groups
With a group of classmates, list the conflicts, or struggles, that the major characters in The
Pigman experience. Label each conflict “internal” or “external.” Then predict how each con-
flict might turn out. Share your lists and predictions with other groups in your class.
Science Connection
Use the snake quiz in chapter 6 as a model to write a quiz of your own. Research “fun facts”
about one of the animals that Lorraine and John visit at the zoo. You might look in an ency-
clopedia about animals or search the Internet for appropriate sites. Write a short list of true-
false questions based on the information that you find. Then quiz your classmates.

Save your work for your portfolio.

The Pigman Study Guide 23

 Before You Read
The Pigman Chapters 9–11
FOCUS ACTIVITY
Recall a time when you apologized to a friend. How did you feel before the apology? How did you feel
afterward?
Journal
In your journal, briefly describe why you felt that you owed your friend an apology and how the apology
made you feel.
Setting a Purpose
Read to find out why John and Lorraine apologize to Mr. Pignati.

BACKGROUND
Did You Know?
People in the United States usually think of insects as disgusting pests. In some countries, however, people
think of insects as delicious snacks. Actually, over a lifetime each of us unknowingly eats as much as a
pound of insect parts, because insects often infest the granaries where flour is milled. Rather than harming
us, insect parts add much-needed protein to our diets. Insect parts can appear in breads as little dark
specks, but more often they are invisible to the eye.
Suspense and Foreshadowing
One of the ways that authors keep readers interested in stories is to create a sense of suspense. Suspense is
a feeling of curiosity, uncertainty, or dread about what will happen next. Foreshadowing—hints or clues
about what will happen—increase the level of suspense. As you read The Pigman, look for clues that hint
at what might happen, and think about the suspense that these clues help build.

VOCABULARY PREVIEW

Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

assassin [ə sasin] n. murderer; killer (p. 61)
berserk [bər surk] adj. crazy; insane (p.51)
interrogating [in tərə āt´in] n. questioning (p. 56)
mull [məl] v. to think about; to ponder (p. 56)
mundane [mun dān] adj. ordinary; commonplace (p. 63)
predicament [pri dikə mənt] n. difficult situation or problem (p. 61)
putrid [pyoo
¯¯¯trid] adj. rotten (p. 52)

24 The Pigman Study Guide

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Active Reading
The Pigman Chapters 9–11
In chapters 9 through 11, you will learn a little more about several of the characters. Like real people,
their experiences affect their behavior, attitudes, and feelings. As you read, fill in the cause-effect chart
below to better understand what causes the characters to act, think, and feel as they do.

Cause Effect

When Norton was a child, other As a result of this experience,

children made fun of him Norton now . . .
because . . . is a tough guy
he liked to play with dolls

When John was ten years old, his As a result of this experience,
father gave him . . . John now . . .
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When Mrs. Jensen was expecting As a result of this experience, Mrs.

Lorraine, Mr. Jensen . . . Jensen now . . .

Mr. Pignati’s wife has . . . As a result of this experience,

Mr. Pignati now . . .

The Pigman Study Guide 25

Name 㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭 Date 㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭 Class 㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭

Responding
The Pigman Chapters 9–11
Personal Response
Do you think that John and Lorraine are falling in love? Explain.

Analyzing Literature
Recall and Interpret
1. Why is Norton so curious about Mr. Pignati? How does John react to Norton’s questions?
Why?

2. How does Mrs. Conlan feel about John’s drinking and smoking? Do you think John is
right to blame his parents for his bad habits? Is John at all to blame? Explain.

3. What do John and Lorraine confess to Mr. Pignati? What does he confess to them?
What does their willingness to confess to each other suggest about their relationship?

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4. What happens to Mr. Pignati while he is roller-skating? How does Lorraine react to the
incident? How does John react? Are their reactions what you expected? Explain.

5. When and why do John and Lorraine pretend to be Mr. Pignati’s children? Do you think
that they would actually like to be his children? Why or why not?

26 The Pigman Study Guide

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Responding
The Pigman Chapters 9–11
Analyzing Literature (continued)
Evaluate and Connect
6. In your opinion, what do the news clippings, pictures, and handwritten notes add to the
novel? Would you miss them if they were not there? Explain.

7. Why do John and Lorraine apologize to Mr. Pignati? How do you think the apology
makes them feel? Are there similarities between John and Lorraine’s situation and the
one you described in the Focus Activity on page 24? Explain.

Literature and Writing

Making Predictions
What do you think will happen to John and Lorraine? to Mr. Pignati? In a paragraph or two,
predict how the novel will end. Be sure to base your predictions on clues in the novel.
Extending Your Response
Literature Groups
“A house is not a home” is an old saying. With a group of classmates, define the difference
between house and home. Then discuss the places that John, Lorraine, and Mr. Pignati live.
Which would you call houses? Which would you call homes? Why? Share your group’s con-
Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

clusions with other groups in your class.

Health Connection
John and Lorraine mistakenly call Mr. Conlan’s illness “sclerosis of the liver.” The actual
name of the disease is “cirrhosis,” and it is one of many serious health problems caused by
alcohol abuse. Use the Internet or library resources to find out how drinking alcoholic
beverages can harm a person’s health. Then create an informational poster or booklet
about the dangers of alcohol abuse.

Save your work for your portfolio.

The Pigman Study Guide 27

 Before You Read
The Pigman Chapters 12–15
FOCUS ACTIVITY
What do you think the future holds for you? What do you most want out of life?
Questionnaire
Explore your beliefs by rating the importance of each of the following goals.

Very Somewhat Unimportant

Important Important
1. Making a lot of money.
2. Finding love.
3. Holding a high-level job.
4. Having close friends.
5. Being a good parent.

Setting a Purpose
Read to discover what John thinks the future holds.

BACKGROUND
Did You Know?
Experts on aging sometimes advise lonely elderly people to get pets. Pets provide companionship, make
the elderly feel needed, and add meaning to their elderly owners’ lives. Dog owners who walk their pets
get an additional benefit: exercise.

Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Climax and Resolution
In a novel or short story, the climax is the moment when the central conflict comes to a head. The resolu-
tion is the point at which the central conflict is settled, or resolved. As in real life, resolutions are not
always happy or complete. Everyone does not necessarily live happily ever after, and all conflicts may not
be completely resolved. As you read the final chapters of The Pigman, look for the climax and think about
the resolution.

VOCABULARY PREVIEW
hors d’oeuvres [o  r du rvz ] n. foods served as appetizers (p. 75)
hovel [huv əl] n. small, often dirty house; shack (p. 73)
incongruous [in kon´roo ¯¯¯ əs] adj. dissimilar; not belonging together (p. 81)
infantile [in fan t¯l] adj. childish (p. 72)
proficiency [prə fish ən sē´] n. skill (p. 86)

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Active Reading
The Pigman Chapters 12–15
As you read chapters 12 through 15, use the ovals below to take notes about the events that lead up to
the climax. Then sum up the climax and the resolution. You may add ovals if you wish.

John throws a party

Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Climax

Resolution

The Pigman Study Guide 29

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Responding
The Pigman Chapters 12–15
Personal Response
What did you think of the conclusion of The Pigman? Why?

Analyzing Literature
Recall and Interpret
1. In chapter 12, John starts to care about how his hair and clothes look. Whom does he
want to impress? Why?

2. When Lorraine recalls her candlelight dinner with John, she says, “it was as if I was
being told about . . . something beautiful waiting just for me.” What do you think that
“something beautiful” is?

3. Briefly describe Lorraine’s nightmare about Mr. Pignati’s “pig room.” What incident does
the dream foreshadow?

Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

4. Why is John so upset when Norton breaks Mr. Pignati’s porcelain pigs? What do the pigs
represent, or symbolize, to Mr. Pignati?

5. Why are John and Lorraine arrested? How do their parents react?

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Responding
The Pigman Chapters 12–15
Analyzing Literature (continued)
Evaluate and Connect
6. Why does John think about his father when Mr. Pignati dies?

7. How might John answer the questionnaire in the Focus Activity on page 28? How
might Lorraine? Explain.

Literature and Writing

A Letter to Mr. Pignati
Imagine that you are either John or Lorraine. Then write a letter of apology to Mr. Pignati in
which you explain why you are sorry and how much he meant to you. Be sure to use specific
details from the novel to write your letter.
Extending Your Response
Literature Groups
Lorraine blames John for what happens to Mr. Pignati. John seems to blame Mr. Pignati
himself. Who, if anyone, is to blame? With a group of classmates, carefully review chapters 14
through 15. Try to come to an agreement of opinion. Then share your opinion with others
groups in your class.
Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Learning for Life

Imagine that you have the opportunity to interview Paul Zindel, the author of The Pigman.
With a partner, write a list of questions that you would like to ask him about the characters
and his reasons for writing the book.

Save your work for your portfolio.

The Pigman Study Guide 31

Name 㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭 Date 㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭 Class 㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭㛭

Paul Zindel Journey to Meet

the Pigman
Before You Read
Focus Question
Who has had the greatest influence on you? Why?
Background
Like many novelists, Paul Zindel sometimes bases his fictional characters on real-life people who have had
an influence on him. In “Journey to Meet the Pigman,” Zindel describes the people on whom he based the
major characters in The Pigman.
Responding to the Reading
1. How did Paul Zindel manage to live rent-free in a castle? Why does he think that the castle was a
good place for a storyteller to live?

2. Whom did Zindel meet while he was living in the castle? What fictional characters did these people
help inspire?

3. What made Zindel recall his mother’s former roommate, Connie? Why did the recollection give
him chills?

Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

4. Who was Nonno Frankie? In your opinion, what was Nonno Frankie’s greatest contribution to
Zindel’s life?

5. Making Connections Compare and contrast Nonno Frankie with Mr. Pignati. In what ways are they
alike? Different?

Personal Writing
In a few paragraphs, describe the person who has had the greatest influence on you. Make your description
vivid by using specific details and quoting a few of the person’s favorite sayings.

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Walter Dean
Meyers
The Treasure of
Lemon Brown
Before You Read
Focus Question
What is your most treasured possession? Why do you value it?
Background
Walter Dean Myers began writing stories and poems when he was only ten years old. Today, some fifty
years later, he is an award-winning author of fiction for young adults. “The Treasure of Lemon Brown” is
one of his most popular short stories.
Responding to the Reading
1. How does Greg feel at the beginning of the story? Why?

2. Why won’t Greg believe that Lemon Brown has treasure? What kind of treasure comes to
Greg’s mind?

3. What is Lemon Brown’s treasure? Why does Lemon Brown place so much value on these items?
Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

4. In what important ways do Greg and Lemon Brown help each other?

5. Making Connections In what ways is Mr. Pignati’s friendship with John and Lorraine similar to
Lemon Brown’s friendship with Greg?
Learning for Life
Interview a parent or other older family member to find out what family possessions he or she treasures
and why. Together, create a list of items that you might place in a “memory box” for future family mem-
bers to enjoy.

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Naomi Shihab
Nye
The Rider
Before You Read
Focus Question
What do you do when you feel lonely?
Background
Naomi Shihab Nye is an award-winning poet who often bases her poems on her experiences. She has said
that she values poetry because it “makes us slow down and listen carefully to the few things we have really
heard, deep inside.”
Responding to the Reading
1. What does the boy in the poem do to escape loneliness? What does the speaker in the poem do?

2. In what lines of the poem is loneliness personified, or given human traits? What does the personifica-
tion add to the poem?

3. To what is the escape from loneliness compared? In your opinion, is the comparison effective? Why or
why not?

Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

4. Making Connections In The Pigman, how do John, Lorraine, and Mr. Pignati cope with their loneli-
ness? In your opinion, are their ways of coping better or worse than those described in the poem?
Explain.

Art Connection
Create a poetry poster for “The Rider.” Copy the poem on a large piece of paper or posterboard, and make
an illustration to accompany the poem. You might draw a picture or create a collage of magazine clippings.
Bring your poster to class and share it with your classmates.

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Barbara
Kantrowitz,
How Well Do You
Pat Wingert,
Anne
Underwood
Know Your Kid?
Before You Read
Focus Question
What problems do today’s teenagers face?
Background
“How Well Do You Know Your Kid?” first appeared in the May 10, 1999, issue of Newsweek. The popular
newsmagazine contains articles on current events, trends, and issues.
Responding to the Reading
1. According to the article, what is the most troubling issue that teenagers face? What are some of the
causes of the problem?

2. In your opinion, is it a contradiction for teenagers to say that they want privacy yet crave their par-
ents’ attention at the same time? Explain.

3. Do you think that cliques and other peer groups fill a useful role in a teenager’s life? Why or why not?
Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

4. According to the article, why do parents find it so difficult to get along with their teenagers? What
does the article advise parents to do? What do you think teenagers might do to improve their rela-
tionship with their parents?

5. Making Connections In your opinion, which character or characters in The Pigman would most bene-
fit from reading “How Well Do You Know Your Kid?” Why?
Learning for Life
With a small group of students, take an informal survey of teenagers at your school. Ask at least ten other
students in your grade or class what issue most troubles teenagers today. Jot down the students’ responses.
Then tabulate the responses and report your findings to your class.

The Pigman Study Guide 35

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X. J. Kennedy What We Might Be,

What We Are
Before You Read
Focus Question
What qualities do you look for in a friend?
Background
X. J. Kennedy is as well known for his textbooks as he is for his poetry. The prize-winning poet taught
college-level English classes for many years, and he has written a number of books about writing and
literature. In his books and poems, Kennedy often uses humor to get his points across.
Responding to the Reading
1. Which lines of the poem describe what the two people might be? what they are?

2. List the comparisons that are made in lines 1–7. What do the comparisons have in common? What do
they suggest about the speaker’s relationship with the “you” in the poem?

3. In lines 13–15, to what does the speaker compare himself? To what does he compare the person to
whom he is talking? What does the comparison suggest about the future of their relationship?

Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

4. How do you think the speaker in the poem might answer the Focus Question? Why do you say so?

5. Making Connections Which characters overcome the greatest differences to make friends in The
Pigman? Explain your answer.
Geography Connection
The poem refers to a Balinese goat. Use a globe or an atlas to locate the island of Bali. Then calculate the
distance between Bali and New Jersey. How does this knowledge add to your understanding of the poem?

36 nn The Pigman Study Guide